maxim



A (No'Moael.) 4 sheen's-sheet 1.

H. S. MAXIM. AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN. No. 447,837. Patented Mar. 10,. 1'89'1.

4 Sheets-811861) 2.

(No Model.)

H. S. MAXIM. AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

Patented Mar. 10,1891. f/

LSU

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

H. s. MAXIM. AUTOMATIC MAOEINE GUN.

Patented Mar. 10,1891.

m I A (No Model.) 4 Sheets-#Sheet 4.`

H. S. MAXM. AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

No. 447,837. Patented Mer. 10, 1891.

lll/llllllllllllfllllll/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I-IIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,837, dated March 10, 1891.

Original application filed December 28, 1886. Serial No. 222,849. Divided and this application filed October 18, 1889. Serial No. 327,459. No model.) Patented in France June 19, 1885, No. 169,647, and February l2, 1887,No. 181,516; in England June 1,1886,No.7,854: in Germany January 20,1887,

No. 41,870'; in Belgium September 26, 1887,

No. 79,005; in Italy Novemher 26,1887, No. 22,500, and in Austria-Hungary April 21, 1888, No. 34,166.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, IIIRAM STEVENS M AXIM, mechanical engineer, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Machine-Guus, (for which I have obtained patents in the following countrieszin Great, Britain, No. 7,354, dated June 1, 1886', in France, No. 160,647, dated June 19, 1885, certificate of addition to No. 169,647, dated October 15, 1886, and .No 181,516, dated February 12, 1887; in Belgium, No. 79,005, dated September 2G, 1887; in Germany, No. 41,870, dated January 20,y 1887; in Italy, No. 22,500, dated November 26,1887, and in Austria-Hungary, No. 34,166, dated April 21, 1888,) of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This application is a division of au application filed by me December 28, 1886, Serial No. 222,819.

. The invention subject of my present application involves the application to the heavier types of guns of an automatic means for operating the same. y

rlhe general character of the gun tof'which the present invention relates is as follows:y

The barreland breech-block are both capable of a ycertain range of ,longitudinal movement which takes place after a discharge asv the effect of the recoil normally, and during the irs't part of the backward movement of these two parts ythey are securely locked together, the breech-block in position to close the breech. llaving reached a certain point in theirrecoil, the interposition of any suitable device unlocks or releases them from engagement, whereupon ythe barrel returns to its normal or forward position, while the breech-block is locked or restrained against forward movement or by its momentum continuos fora short distance its recoil and is then locked. Some device capable of storing the energy of the recoil of these parts isutilized to return the barrel to its position, and

another and similar device, such as a spring,

is similarly employed in connection with the brceclrblock, which is released and permitted to-move forward when the barrel has reached its forward'position, or nearly so. These movements or changes of position of.IJ the parts I have utilized in effecting automatically the operations of loading and ringthe gun-that is to say, the recoil of the barrel withdraws a cartridge from a suitable feed mechanism and leaves it in position to be subsequently dropped or forced into line with the breech-block and breech. The separation of the breech-block and barrel extracts the empty shell from the latter and permits the loaded shell to move into line with the barrel. 'lhe forward movement of the breechhammer previously cocked by sonic' one of the moving parts.

I have found desirable to be modified when used with large guns in substantially the mannerv illustrated in the drawings, and hereinafter described in detail.

Figure 1 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, of one form of my improved gun. Fig. 2 is a verticallongitudinal section ofthe same, partly through the center of the gun and partly through one of the buffers hereinafter described. Fig` 3 is a vertical longitudinal central section showing the parts in a different position. Fig. 4t is a transverseseetion on the line Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of' part of the gun on the line x fr', Fig. 2, drawn to an enlarged scale. Figs. 5 and 6 are plans, and Fig. 7 isavertical longitudinal central section, drawn .to the same scale as Fig. 4, showing details of construction. y y, Fig. 4, showing means for locking the breecl1-block to the barrel. Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal central section illustrating the means for holding back and releasing the breech-block of the said gun, as hereinafter described. Fig. 10 is a rear elevation of the said breech-block. Fig. 11 is a front velevation of a portion of the same. Fig. 12 is a side elevation, partly in vertical longitudinal central section, showing one of my guns supported upon a cylindrical mounting. Fig. 13 i is a plan of the said mounting, partly in horiblock drives the shell home and .trips they ,This apparatus or combination of devices therefore make the breech-block very short,

preferably of a length equal to two calibers, in order to economize spacca-nd to lighten the gun.

A is a strong metal frame or cradle, which is supported by means of its trunnions A on a suitable carriage or mount-ing.

B is the barrel, which is fitted to slide longitudinally to .and fro in the said frame or cradle. v

C is is the breech-block, which is fitted to slide longitudinally in guides A" in the frame.

or cradle A to and from the barrel li. The barrel is constructed with a forked rearward extension B' The breech-block C is T-shaped in transverse section, and its upper or Wider part enga-ges with and slidesv in the guidegrooves A", while its lower or narrower part tits into the forked extension' B of the barrel when the breech is closed. The barrel is connected at its rear end with hydraulic but'- fers P for counteracting its'recoil. The ram or piston'ef each of these buffers is acted upon bya spring E for storing energy during the recoil and utilizing such energy to effect the return movement ofv the barrel. e

The breech block has firmly connected therewith at its upper end a frame Q. which is fitted to slide to 'and fro with the breechblock in the guides A", andwhich is formed with an aperture Q for the reception of a cartridge, which, when the breech is closed, rests upon the upper edges of the guides A.

The magazine consists of a vertical hopper or-feederK, beneath which slides the frame Q, so that when the breech is closed the lowermost cartridge in the magazine will drop into the frame Q, as shown in Fig. 2. In the recoil or backward movement of the breechblock C and frame Q this cartridge will be drawn back until it reaches such a position that it can pass between' the edges of the guides A". It will then fall into the position shownin Fig. 3, so that it will be thrust into the barrel by the breech-block in the nextof the said cartridge from the said projection K' and allowing the Vcartridge to fall into the frame Q.

Two springs D are provided for storing energy during the backward. 'movement of the breech-block and for utilizing such energy to effect theretnrn movement of the said block. These springs are inclosed within the sides of the frame Q and are attached at their forward end to the gun-frame A and at their rear end to the breech-block.

For locking the breech-block to the barrel, I provide two bolts, rods, or shafts R R', which are fitted in the breech-block, so that they can be rotated or partially rotated about their axes. These bolts or shafts are semicylindrical throughout 'a portion of their length, and their semi-cylindrical portionsare adapted to enter notches" in the extension B of the barrel, as shown in Fig. 8, for the purl pose of locking the breech-block tothe barrel and efficiently supporting the said block against the force of the explosiomso that the breech-block and barrel will recoil together.

The turning of the said bolts orshafts R R' v about their axes through a small angle will unlock the breech-block from t-he barrel by bringing the fiat sides of the semi-cylindrical portions of the bolts ush with the sides of the breech-block. The said block is then free to move backward away from the barrel. OnA

the bolts orv shafts R R' are fixed pinions R", which are geared with each other and with racks S" on a slide S. arranged above the vbreech-block'betvveenthe guides A" and pro- To provide for the automatic opening of the breech, an arm F, having an inclinedsurface F', is fixed upon the lower end of the bolt or shaft R, and is so arranged that in the recoil it will strike an inclined shoulder or projection F" on the gun-frame A.' The boltsRR' will thus be partially rotated about their axes, so as to unlock the breech-block from the barrel. lAnother arm G, is fixed upon the bolt R,and a spring G' is firmly attached to the gun-frame A in such a position that when the breech-block is driven home the arm G will strike and compress the spring G', which by its reaction upon. the said arm will turn the bolts R R' into their locking position.

The hammer H' is pivoted upon a vertical axis and isaeted upon by a spiral spring H, surrounding its pivot J.l

The scar l is arranged to be acted upon by an arm or lever G, fixed on the bolt or shaft R', so that when the said bolt or shaft is turnedv to lock the breech-biock te the barrel the said sear Will be automatically disengaged from the bent of the hammer, which isv formed in a disk J', fixed onthe pivot J;

The scar I is arranged in combination with a trigger M and sliding bar M', whereby itmay be disengaged from thel hammer by hand to fire the gun. The breech-block re- 'i oo IIO IIS

mitted to move forward.

coils with the barrel, andis then unlocked therefrom and continues to move backward by reason of its momentum.

Any suitable means are provided, if necessary, for retaining the breech-block in its rearmost position while a cartridge falls in front `thereof and then releasing the said block to 'permit its forward movement. I sometimes-employ for this purpose the devices shown in Figs. S), l0, and ll-that is to say, a bar or catch C is pivoted to the breechblock and is formed with a hook C. This bar or catch is acted uponl by a spring L, which tends to push it downward. At the termination ofthe backward movement of the breech-block the hooked end of this bar passes through an aperture in the rear end of the frame A and engages with the said frame, thus holding back the breech-block until released, as hereinafter described. A bar T is itted to slide to and fro in a transverse slot in a pin or shaft T, whereby the said'bar is pivoted -to the breech-block, so that it works in a hole or slot therein. A pin V is passed through the said bar to prevent its withdrawal from the breech-block, and a spring V is rmly secured to the said bar and presses against the lower wall of the slot in the breech-block, so that it tends to push the said bar against the upper wall of the said slot. A sliding bar.V is lsecured to the frame A and serves as aconnection between the bars C and T. In its rearward movement ofthe breech-block the rear end of the bar T strikes the frame A, and is thus pushed forward into' the position shown in Fig. 9 at the same time that the hook'C engages with the said fratrie. 'When the cartridge which has been drawn back by the breech-block falls in front of the said block, its head orv base strikes the bar Tf, thereby turning the same on its pivot, so that it pushes the sliding bar V upward against the'bar C. The hook C'is thus disengaged from the frame A and the breech-block released and per- An extractor N is tted to slide in a hole or cavityin the breech-block C, and is formed with an elongated slot N', through which is passed a pin N for retaining the extractor in thebreeeh-block While permitting the said block to move backward through a short distance before it operates the extractor to extract the empty cartridge-shell from the barrel.

O is the tiring-pin, which is of the usual construction.

bar U. lVhen the breech-block is unlocked from the barrel and moves away therefrom,

,the spring U forces the bar U backward, so

that the cartridge drawn out of the magazine by the frame Q will fall upon'the rear end of the said bar. The breech-bloekin its forward movement pushes the flange of the cartridge againstthe bar U, and thus compresses the spring U and moves the said bar forward until it comes against thc breech end of the barrel. This gun can be advantageously worked by hand if the means for automatically unlocking the breech are dispensed with.

The operation of .my improved gun is as follows. viz: To load the gun at starting, any desired number of cartridges are introduced into the hopper or magazine li and the lowermost of the said cartridges drops into the frame Q. The handle S isthcn pulled backward to unlock the breech-block and draw the same back in the frame or cradle A until the catch C engages with thc rcarend of the said frame or cradle, and thus holds back the said block. The cartridge drawn 'back by the frame Q then falls into the'spacebctween the breech-block and the rear end of the barrel, and striking the bar T disengages the catch C, and thus permits the return movement of the breech-block under the action of the spring D. The cooking of the hammer Il is Veected by the breech-block in its backward movement. In the forward or return movement of the breech-block the arm G strikes the spring G', and the bolts R R are'thercby turned so as'to lock the said block to the barrel. (lhe arm G at the same timeI disengages-the sear I from the ben'tof the hammer. At the termination of the return movementof the breech-block another cartridge falls from the magazine into the frame Q. The gun is. nowready for firing, and it is tired by pulling the trigger M, and thus disengaging the sear I from the bent of the hammer. -The force of the explosion causes the recoil of the barrel and breech-block in the frame or cradle A. In this recoil the springs E are compressed and the arm F, coming in contact with the inclined projection F, turns the bolts R R about their axes, thus unlocking the breech-block and allowvthe same to continue its'backward movement,

while the barrel is moved forward or run out to the tiring position by the reaction of the spring The breeclrblock in its continued f backward movement cocks .the hammer, ex-

tracts the empty cartridge-shell,and through the .medium of'the frame Q draws a fresh cartridge out of the magazine. At the termination of therearward movement of the breech-block the catch C holds .back the said block until the said cartridge falls in front thereof. The said cartridge strikes the bar T', and thus disengages the said catch,

and the springs D, which have been compressed ih the backward movement of the breech-block, react and effect the return movement of the said block. In the forward IOO l'IO

or return movement of the breech-block the said cartridge is thrust into the barrel and the frame Q moved forward to receive a fresh cartridge from the magazine. The spring G. acting-upon the arm G, locks the breech-block to vthe barrel and the scar I is disengaged from'the hammer by the arm G. It will therefore be seen that all the operations, except the firing of the gun, are performed automatically. ily-fastening or holding back the trigger the gun may, if desired, be rendered entirely automatic, so that it will centinne firing successive shots so long as thc supply of ammunition lasts.

According to another part of my invention I provide means whereby the gun when not in use for ring will be held in any position to which it may be adjusted, so that the turning of'the same upon its trunnions will be preserved rirrespectively of the position for thev time being of its center of gravity. For this purpose I combine with the shoulderpieceor crutch, means whereby when no pressure is exerted upon thel said shoulder-piece `or crutch the gun will be rmly locked or secured against verticalmovement; but wh'en pressure is applied to the said shoulderpiece or crutch the gun will be free te be elevated or depressed, as required.

in Fig. 12 c isa tube or hollow rod secured in any convenient manner to the left-handl side of the frame A. For example, the said tube is passed through a ring or annular piece c', fixed on the said frame, and its end is inserted in a socket c" also fixed on the said frame. A block l is secured in the forward end of this tube, and a spring-catch e is pivoted tothe said block and is adapted 'to cnter a hole in the socket c and engage with the end of the said soci-ret, as shown. A rod j' is arranged within this tube and is formed with a head f at its forward end, whichis fitted to slide in the said tube. A curved arm g is pivoted at gf to'the gunmounting and is passed through a hole or yslot in the tube c. 'lhe said tube has a hollow block h, firmly attached to its rear end, and upon this block the shoulder-piece or crutch is fitted to slide toward and away from the gun. Two le- .vers j are pivoted to the block 7L within the same. The short arms of these levers engage with shoulders on the rear end of the rod f. The long arms of the said levers are acted upon by springs k, which are secured to the block h, and which tend to push the crutch i outward upon the said block and t0 push the rodfinward, so that the arm is tightlyheld between the head f and the block d, and the swinging of the gun upon its trunnions is prevented. lVhen the gunner applies press-ure to the said crutch with his shoulder, it is moved inward or toward the gun, the springs 7o are compressed, and theleversj are turned on their pivots. The rodf is thus drawn outward and the arm `fj-releasod.

What I claim is- 1. The combination of the outer frame, the

sliding barrel provided with a forked extension, one or more springs connected with the barrel for effecting its return movement after a recoi`l,`the longitudinally-movable breechblock, one or more springs acting thereon to effeet its return or fmwvard movement after reeoil, a locking device normally securing the breech-block to the barrel, a detent or device for releasing the saine at the termination of the recoil of the barrel, whereby the bre-cchblock is free t0 continuo its backward movement, and means for relooking thebarrel and breech-block together when in their forward position, as set forth.

2. The combination of an outer frani'ca7 sliding barrel provided at its breech end with an extension and arranged to recoil in said outer frame at each discharge,a breech-block fitted to slide to and fro insaid frame in rear of the barrel, bolts or shafts in said block formed with parts adapted when the bolts or shafts are turned to engage with grooves or notches in said extension of the barrel, and means for turning said boltsor shafts to lock or unlock the breech-block from the barrel.

3. The combination, with the breeelrinloek and the locking bolts or shafts R R therein, of the piniens R, connecting said bolts or shafts, the arms F G, extending from one of the bolts, and inclined surfaces or projections on the gun-frame in the path of the arms F G for operating said bolts or shafts in the toand-fro movement of said breech-block', substantially as set forth.v

4. The combination, with the breech-block, the locking bolts or shafts R R therein, and the pinions R, connecting the same, of lthe slide S, connected to said block and formed with a part S to serve a handle, and racks S" on theslide gearingwith the pinions R, as set forth.

5. The combination, with a sliding breechblock, of a hammer mounted on a vertical pivot or shaft thereon, va earn J with a bent 'il on the hammer-shaft, a Sear I, engaging therewith, a spring actuating theseana locking-bolt in the breeclrblock adapted to bc rotated bythe to-and-fro movementof th same, and an arm G on said bolt adapted to engage with the sear, herein set forth.

G. The combination, with a reciprocating breech-block, of a hammer Il', its vertical shaft J, the disk or cam J', formed with the bent Il and secured tothe hammer-shaft, the searsll,engaging with the disir J,thedivided spring J, bearing on the sears, an arm G, extending from a rotating bolt or shaft It in rthe breech-block, the sliding bar M', engaging with the sear, and a trigger M for moving the same, as set forth.

T. The combination, with abarrel and cartridge hopper or feeder, of a breech-block fitted to slide to andfroin the frame of the ZOO IIO

gun in rear of the barrel, and a frame Q, .formed with the aperture Q,conneeted with frame, for eifeetingthe forward or return movement of the barrel, as set forth.

D. The combination, with the barrrel and the breechblock adapted to slide to and fro in rear of the same, of the bent bar U, sliding in guides or bearings attached-to said barrel,

'and the spring U intermediate to the bar and a lug on the gun-frame and adapted to force the bar U back on the separation of the barrel and breech-block, as set forth.y

l0. The combination, with a gun-frame, a barrel; and a breech-block adapted to slide to and fro on the-frame in line with the barrel, of a hook on the breech-block for engaging with the frame and holding said block at the rear end of its stroke or movement and a releasing device adapted to be struck by the cartridges when falling into line with the barrel, and' thereby caused to release said block and permit its forward movement, as set forth.

11. The combination, with the outer frame A, the barrel, and the breech-block C, adapted to slide to and fro in said frame in line with ward movement, a pivoted springactuated lever imposition to be st ruck by the cartridges falling'iuto liuewith theopeuingr in thobreech, and a plate or slide between said lever and the catch C for disengagng said catch when the lever is struck by a cartridge, as set forth.

12. The combination, with a gun mounted on trunnions, ofi a sl1oul leipiece or crutch, a curved serrated arm or toothed segment seeu red to the station arymoimting,and aspringactuated detent device carried by the crutch and adapted to engage with said segment and hold the gun in any position to which it may be turned on its trunnions.

13. The combination, with a gun mounted on trunnions, of a tube attached to the gunframe, a hollow bleek formed or fixed on said tube, a shoulder-piece fitted to slide on said block toward and away from lthe gun, a pair of clamping-jaws, one of which is fixed in said' tube and the otherof which is movable therein, a curved arin attached to the gunmonnt ing and extending between said jaws, one or more springs for operatingr said movable jaw to clamp said arm, and means whereby said movable jaw may be withdrawn and said arm released by pressure against said shoulderpieee, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof] have hereunto sign ed my naine in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

t lllRAM STlIYlINS MAXIM. Witnesses:

DAVID YOUNG,

(aus. I. Enanos. 

